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News | Crypto Converter | Crypto Calculators |
Crypto funds lose $173M as US pulls back, Harvard rebalances, and Standard Chartered cuts XRP target |
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Key points: |
Digital asset investment products logged a fourth straight week of outflows at $173 million, with US investors withdrawing $403 million even as Europe and Canada added $230 million. Harvard trimmed its Bitcoin ETF exposure while initiating an Ether position, as Standard Chartered slashed its XRP price target by 65% amid expectations of further crypto downside.
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News - Crypto funds extended their losing streak to four weeks, shedding $173 million as price weakness weighed on sentiment. Over the past month, total outflows have reached roughly $3.74 billion, pushing assets under management to their lowest levels since April 2025. |
The United States accounted for $403 million in redemptions, while Europe and Canada posted combined inflows of $230 million. Bitcoin products led the withdrawals with $133.3 million in outflows, followed by Ethereum funds at $85.1 million. In contrast, XRP and Solana attracted $33.4 million and $31 million respectively, highlighting that select altcoins continued to draw capital despite broader weakness. |
Short-Bitcoin products also saw $15.4 million in outflows over the past two weeks, a pattern CoinShares' James Butterfill noted is often observed near potential market lows. |
Institutions reposition as volatility persists - Harvard University's $56.9 billion endowment reduced its stake in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) by roughly 21%, selling about 1.5 million shares. At the same time, it initiated its first Ether exposure, acquiring nearly 3.9 million shares of the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) valued at around $86.8 million. |
The shift may reflect portfolio rebalancing and the unwinding of trades tied to Bitcoin treasury companies trading at premiums to their net asset value, rather than a pure sentiment reversal. |
SEC filings show institutions collectively reduced IBIT ownership from 417 million shares in Q3 to 230 million in Q4. |
XRP outlook slashed as macro risks loom - In a note shared with DL News, Standard Chartered cut its end-2026 XRP forecast by 65%, lowering its target from $8 to $2.80. The bank also reduced its Bitcoin target from $150,000 to $100,000, Ethereum from $7,000 to $4,000, and Solana from $250 to $135, citing expectations of further near-term declines across digital assets. |
XRP had rallied strongly earlier in the year, with ETF inflows peaking at $1.6 billion on January 5 before falling to just over $1 billion by mid-February. |
Meanwhile, softer US inflation data briefly improved sentiment, driving $105 million in inflows late in the week. However, analysts indicate that a more sustained recovery could hinge on macro stabilization and regulatory progress, including movement on the Clarity Act currently under Senate consideration. |
CZ says privacy is crypto's missing piece; Binance battles Iran claims |
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Key points: |
CZ argued that insufficient onchain privacy remains a core barrier to crypto payments and institutional adoption, calling it the "missing link" for mainstream use. Binance denied allegations of facilitating over $1 billion in Iran-linked USDT transactions, stating an internal review found no sanctions violations.
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News - Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) renewed his call for stronger privacy features across crypto networks, warning that radical blockchain transparency is deterring both businesses and institutions from using digital assets for payments. |
Speaking on the All-In Podcast and later on X, CZ said most cryptocurrencies lack adequate privacy protections. He pointed to scenarios such as companies paying employees onchain, where salary data could be viewed publicly by tracing wallet addresses. He also raised concerns about physical security risks if transaction data reveals real-world activity, such as hotel payments. |
Institutional leaders echoed those concerns at a recent industry panel, arguing that large transactions require privacy safeguards that allow auditability without exposing sensitive counterparties. Executives from firms including Abraxas Capital, JPMorgan, and B2C2 stressed that institutions will not move significant assets onchain at scale unless privacy and execution certainty improve. |
A recent $50 million commercial paper issuance on Solana arranged by JPMorgan and Galaxy Digital illustrated the promise of tokenized debt, but also reinforced concerns that institutions will hesitate to scale activity on fully transparent public blockchains without stronger confidentiality safeguards. |
Binance pushes back on Iran-linked allegations - At the same time, Binance rejected a report alleging that more than $1 billion in transfers tied to Iranian entities moved through the platform between March 2024 and August 2025 via USDT on Tron. |
The exchange said a full internal review conducted with external legal counsel found no sanctions violations. Co-CEO Richard Teng stated that no investigators were dismissed for raising compliance concerns and that Binance continues to meet its regulatory obligations under ongoing monitoring requirements. |
The dispute unfolds against the backdrop of Binance's 2023 $4.3 billion settlement over AML and sanctions violations, after which the company committed to strengthened compliance controls. |
Transparency vs confidentiality: The adoption test - As institutions explore tokenized debt issuance on public blockchains, questions around balancing transparency with confidentiality remain unresolved. |
EU pushes blanket crypto ban on Russia; Moscow reports $650M daily turnover |
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Key points: |
The European Commission is seeking an EU-wide ban on all crypto transactions involving Russia, aiming to close sanctions loopholes tied to rebranded exchanges and stablecoin networks. Russian officials estimate daily crypto turnover at roughly $650 million, with most activity occurring outside regulated channels as lawmakers move to formalize oversight.
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News - The European Commission is reportedly advancing a proposal to prohibit any EU-based individual or entity from transferring cryptocurrencies to or from Russia-based counterparties, according to documents seen by the Financial Times. |
The measure would bar transactions with any crypto asset service provider established in Russia and forms part of a broader sanctions package that also targets certain dual-use goods exports to Kyrgyzstan. All 27 EU member states must approve the proposal before it can take effect, though three countries have reportedly raised concerns about the timing. |
The move follows instances of sanctioned Russian exchanges resurfacing under new names. Garantex, for example, reemerged last year as Grinex. EU officials acknowledge that listing individual providers has allowed ecosystems to regenerate quickly, prompting calls for a broader transactional prohibition. |
Sanctions evasion infrastructure under scrutiny - Attention has also centered on the A7 network and its ruble-pegged stablecoin A7A5. According to the 2026 TRM Crypto Crime Report, A7A5 and its associated wallet network handled approximately $70 billion in sanctions-related flows last year. The token surpassed $100 billion in total transaction volume in January. |
TRM Labs' Global Head of Policy Ari Redbord described the ecosystem as a mature network designed to facilitate ransomware activity, darknet markets, and large-scale sanctions evasion. He said a blanket ban would shift focus from individual listings to whether a transaction is linked to high-risk networks, potentially creating clearer supervisory leverage at regulated access points. |
Russia moves to formalize crypto oversight - At the same time, Russian officials are pushing to regulate domestic crypto activity. Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov estimated daily crypto turnover at 50 billion rubles, or roughly $650 million, totaling more than 10 trillion rubles annually. He noted that most of this activity currently occurs outside the regulated zone. |
The central bank and government aim to pass a crypto market regulation bill during the State Duma's spring session. Proposed rules would allow licensed exchanges and brokers to offer crypto services, including spot trading, with specific licensing requirements and penalties for unlicensed intermediaries. |
As Brussels advances stricter sanctions enforcement, Moscow is simultaneously moving to bring domestic crypto activity within a formal regulatory framework. |
Nexo returns to US with Bakkt partnership after $45M SEC settlement |
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Key points: |
Nexo has relaunched in the US three years after exiting the market, rolling out yield programs, exchange access and crypto-backed credit lines powered by Bakkt infrastructure. The return follows a $45 million SEC settlement over its Earn Interest Product and comes as Washington debates crypto market structure rules.
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News - Crypto wealth platform Nexo has officially reentered the US market, more than three years after withdrawing during heightened regulatory pressure under former SEC Chair Gary Gensler. |
The company said it is relaunching fixed and flexible yield programs, an integrated crypto exchange, crypto-backed credit lines and a loyalty program for US users. Trading infrastructure will be provided by Bakkt, the US-based digital asset platform founded by Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange. |
Nexo currently reports $11 billion in assets under management and says its US offering is structured through partnerships with licensed service providers. Certain services are made available through a third-party SEC-registered investment adviser. |
From enforcement to recalibration - Nexo exited the US in December 2022, citing regulatory uncertainty after negotiations with federal and state regulators stalled. In January 2023, the firm agreed to a $45 million settlement with the SEC over its interest-bearing Earn Interest Product, which regulators said had not been properly registered. The company complied with a cease-and-desist order and discontinued the product for US users. |
The return follows what Nexo described as a period of "deliberate recalibration" and improved regulatory clarity for digital assets. |
Broader regulatory and market context - Nexo's relaunch comes as Washington debates crypto market structure legislation, including the CLARITY Act, which has passed the House but stalled in the Senate. |
The firm has also faced state-level scrutiny. Last month, California regulators fined Nexo $500,000 over more than 5,000 unlicensed loans issued to residents, though the company said the penalty does not reflect its current operations. |
Nexo has framed its return as part of a longer-term commitment to operating within a compliant US framework as regulatory rules continue to evolve. |
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More stories from the crypto ecosystem |
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Did you know? |
Institutional asset tokenization is shifting into production: UK asset manager Aviva Investors announced a collaboration with Ripple to tokenize traditional fund structures on the XRP Ledger, aiming to streamline trade processing and reduce costs. The London Stock Exchange Group is building a blockchain-native settlement platform: The LSEG Digital Securities Depository will enable on-chain trading and settlement of tokenized financial instruments, bridging traditional capital markets and digital asset infrastructure. Multiple sovereign entities now manage substantial Bitcoin portfolios: As of mid-2025, governments including the United States, China, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine collectively controlled over 500,000 BTC, with the U.S. formally establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve to hold seized assets as a permanent national buffer.
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Top 3 coins of the day |
Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) |
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Key points: |
VIRTUAL climbed to $0.65 after rebounding from the $0.52 region, marking a recovery toward the Bollinger midline near $0.63. The MACD flipped positive with a rising histogram, while price pushed off the lower Bollinger Band, signaling improving daily momentum.
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What you should know: |
VIRTUAL reversed higher after finding demand near $0.50–$0.52 and steadily reclaimed ground toward $0.63, which aligns with the Bollinger mid-band and now acts as a short-term pivot. The latest daily candle closed around $0.65, reflecting renewed buying interest after weeks of lower highs. The upper Bollinger Band near $0.78 remains the next dynamic resistance, while $0.50 continues to serve as structural support. |
Momentum strengthened as the MACD crossed upward and the histogram turned positive, indicating a shift away from February's bearish pressure. Volume also improved during the rebound, supporting the move. |
On the fundamental side, the rally coincided with an AI sector rotation narrative that spotlighted VIRTUAL as a leading AI-linked token. Additionally, Zoof Wallet's integration enabling direct in-app purchases using VIRTUAL, USDC, or ETH enhanced token utility, potentially reinforcing near-term demand. |
Bittensor (TAO) |
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Key points: |
TAO advanced to $189 after rebounding sharply from the $145–$150 zone, reclaiming the 20-day MA near $183. RSI recovered toward 47.65 while volume expanded on the breakout, indicating strengthening momentum despite the 50-day MA near $227 still trending above price.
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What you should know: |
After sliding steadily through January, TAO based near $145 and then staged a forceful recovery that pushed it back above $180. The latest daily close near $189 reflected sustained buying interest following a high-volume breakout session. The 20-day MA around $183 now acts as immediate support, while $200 and the recent spike high near $215 stand as the next resistance levels. The 50-day MA near $227 remains a broader trend barrier. |
Momentum improved meaningfully, with RSI climbing from near oversold territory toward neutral levels. The rally aligned with TAO's confirmed Upbit listing on February 16, which introduced KRW, BTC, and USDT trading pairs and expanded access to South Korean liquidity. Sentiment was further supported by renewed discussion around Bittensor's transition toward a decentralized, headless protocol structure, reinforcing its AI-focused narrative. |
Render (RENDER) |
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Key points: |
RENDER stabilized near $1.45 after rebounding from the $1.30–$1.35 swing low, pressing up toward the Bollinger mid-band around $1.47. The Awesome Oscillator began printing green bars, while price recovered from the lower Bollinger Band near $1.13, suggesting easing bearish pressure.
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What you should know: |
Following a steady pullback from its early January highs near $2.80–$3.00, RENDER slid toward $1.30 before attracting buyers. The latest daily candle closed near $1.45, reflecting a modest recovery attempt within the broader corrective structure. Price now sits just below the Bollinger mid-band at $1.47, which acts as immediate resistance. A sustained move above this level would expose the $1.51–$1.55 region, while $1.30 remains the key structural support to monitor. |
Volatility had expanded during the February drop but has since begun stabilizing as price lifted from the lower band near $1.13. The Awesome Oscillator remained below zero, yet emerging green prints indicated that downside momentum was weakening. Volume improved slightly on the rebound, though it has not signaled aggressive accumulation. |
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